§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money was lent on social fund loans at the last date for which figures are available; how many people have such loans; what is the average loan at the time of issue; and what is the average repayment period. [12834]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information for the period April to December 1995 is set out in the table.
Budgeting loan Crisis loan Number of awards 702,751 621,048 Total amount awarded £190,294,974 £41,161,827 Average payment £270.78 £66.27 Average length of repayment for loan repaid during this period 34.7 weeks 14.6 weeks 1. The number of discretionary awards made after review is not included.
2. The repayment terms for social fund loans are designed to be affordable to the applicant. The rate of repayment depends upon the applicant's individual circumstances. Although most loans are repaid within 78 weeks, the period of repayment may be extended up to 104 weeks.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the average time taken to process a claim on the social fund for each year since its inception; and if he will indicate the total number of claims(a) met, (b) refused and (c) appealed against. [12265]
§ Mr. Evans[holding answer 31 January 1996]: The information is set out in the tables.
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Clearance times Year Maternity payments Funeral payments Community Care grants Budgeting loans Crisis loans 1988–89 n/a n/a 7 working days 13 working days 1 working day 1989–90 n/a n/a 8 working days 10 working days 1 working day 1990–91 n/a n/a 7 working days 4.9 working days 1 working day 1991–92 n/a n/a 5.9 working days 3.2 working days 1 working day 1992–93 n/a n/a 4.3 working days 5.9 working days 1 working day 1993–94 80.88 per cent. in 5 working days 98.02 per cent. in 20 working days 71.69 per cent. in 12 working days 96.09 per cent. in 35 working days 81 per cent. in 7 working days 98 per cent. in 20 working days 78 per cent. in 6 working days 97 per cent. in 20 working days Cleared in day need arises 1994–95 73.3 per cent. in 5 working days 93.83 per cent. in 20 working days 75.72 per cent. in 12 working days 96.95 per cent. in 35 working days 87 per cent. in 7 working days 98 per cent. in 20 working days 84 per cent. in 6 working days 98 per cent. in 20 working days Cleared in day need arises Performance monitoring by the Benefits Agency of clearance times for funeral payments and maternity payments did not commence until September 1992.
Social fund claims, awards, refusals, appeals and reviews Maternity payments Funeral payments Community care grants Budgeting loans Crisis loans 1988–89 Claims (000s) 212 53 315 933 501 Awards (000s) 170 40 153 505 379 Refusals (000s) 49 13 146 330 45 Appeals 748 668 — — — Applications for first review — — 25,382 71,131 9,824 1989–90 Claims (000s) 224 63 523 1,131 645 Awards (000s) 174 44 230 580 449 Refusals (000s) 46 15 278 455 46 Appeals 638 859 — — — Applications for first review — — 71,104 100,200 9,898 1990–91 Claims (000s) 234 68 692 1,092 596 Awards (000s) 189 49 246 596 504 Refusals (000s) 41 15 370 472 53 Appeals 522 579 — — — Applications for first review — — 55,932 64,577 5,243 1991–92 Claims (000s) 262 77 1,027 1,360 711 Awards (000s) 217 57 255 711 592 Refusals (000s) 41 17 736 545 70 Appeals 564 1,076 — — — Applications for first review — — 88,913 90,429 7,148 1992–93 Claims (000s) 271 83 1,184 1,498 837 Awards (000s) 228 63 287 801 671 Refusals (000s) 38 16 865 592 118 Appeals 491 1,032 — — — Applications for first review — — 119,351 118,539 13,588 1993–94 Claims (000s) 272 94 1,244 1,529 901 Awards (000s) 230 72 294 854 699 Refusals (000s) 20 10 923 600 153 Appeals 357 969 — — — Applications for first review — — 148,633 153,776 18,790 1994–95 Claims (000s) 262 95 1,266 1,467 1,011 Awards (000s) 220 68 285 864 755 Refusals (000s) 42 27 964 588 213 Appeals 312 1,287 — — — Applications for first review — — 191,539 205,368 27,760 1. As claims for maternity and funeral payments are from the regulated part of the social fund there are rights of appeal to a social security appeal tribunal. The grievance procedure for dissatisfied applicants to the discretionary social fund is by review process.
2. The difference between applications received, awards and refusals is due to: applications being withdrawn by applicants; applications where there is no response from applicants; and applications not decided at the time the count was made.
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